Carton having an end closure label

ABSTRACT

A carton having a separate end closure label or covering adhesively secured to the ends thereof primarily for the purpose of covering and closing any pinhole openings at corners or other areas of conventional carton end closures whereby to prevent leakage of finely divided materials and to prevent entrance of air or moisture.

United States Patent 2 ,1 97,739 4/1940 Bensel 72] Inventor Robert W. Vergobbi Braintree, Mass. [21] Appl. No. 745,428 [22] Filed July 17, 1968 [45] Patented Mar. 9, 1971 [73] Assignee Pneumatic Scale Corporation Quincy, Mass.

[54] CARTON HAVING AN END CLOSURE LABEL 3 Claims, 17 Drawing Figs. [5 2] US. Cl 229/51, 229/7 [51 Int. Cl. B65d 5/70 [50] Field ofSearch., 229/7, 17, 5 1 (S), 23(13) [5 6] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,198,119 4/1940 Krengel 229/5 1 (S) 2,428,845 10/1947 Guyer 229/17X 2,470,984 5/1949 Horning et a1. 229/7X 2,540,321 2/1951 Cartwright 229/7 2,719,663 10/1955 Jagenberg 229/7 2,847,151 8/1958 Jagenberg 229/7 2,850,222 9/1958 Haltin 229/17 FOREIGN PATENTS 13,135 6/1934 Australia 229/7 Primary Examiner-Davis T. Moorhead Attorney-Robert R. Churchill ABSTRACT: A carton having a separate end closure label or covering adhesively secured to the ends thereof primarily for the purpose of covering and closing any pinhole openings at corners or other areas of conventional carton end closures whereby to prevent leakage of finely divided materials and to prevent entrance of air or moisture.

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snmsnra INVENTOR F R. W. Vergobb/ I f uw @L M ATTORNEY PATENTED m 91971 saw u or 4 INVENTOR R. .W. Vergobb/ ATTORNEY CARTON HAVING AN END CLOSURE LABEL BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION I. Field of the Invention The invention relates to the packaging art and particularly to containers such as pasteboard cartons for packaging foods or other materials.

2. Description of the Prior Art In the conventional pasteboard carton provided with end closing flaps, pinhole openings occur at the corners thereof through which finely divided materials may leak or through which air and moisture may enter.'Prior to the present invention those cartons used for packaging finely divided materials or materials likely to be damaged by air or moisture have been provided with a sealed lining preferably of a material impervious to air or moisture. It will be apparent that the provision of such a lining adds considerably to the cost of the carton and the packaged product.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION The invention relates generally to paperboard cartons of the type having end closing flaps subject to leakage at the corners or other portions thereof and which, prior to the present invention, have been provided with an impervious or other type of lining to provide a substantially leakproof and moistureproof container.

In accordance with the present invention, the lining may be eliminated, thereby saving a considerable amount in the cost of the carton, and in lieu thereof, a separate outer label or end closure cover is applied and adhesively secured to the ends of the carton including the corners thereof whereby to provide a substantially leakproof and moistureproof carton in an economical manner.

Accordingly, the invention has for an object to provide a novel and improved leakproof and moistureproof carton characterized by separate end closures arranged to cover any pinhole openings formed at the corners thereof. In a broader aspect of the invention, the present end closure cover may be used with various types of cartons including either a lined or unlined carton provided with different types of end closure flaps including special constructions which may be manipulated to form a pouring spout, or the carton may be free of end closure flaps in which case the present end closure label or cover may comprise the entire end closure.

Accordingly, the invention has for a further object to provide a novel and improved separate end closure label for a carton wherein the label is adapted to be applied to and adhesively secured to the ends of a carton to provide an end closure therefor.

With these general objects in view and such others as may hereinafter appear, the invention consists in the carton and in the end closure label therefor as thereinafter described and particularly defined in the claims at the end of this specification.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings illustrating the preferred embodiment of the invention:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a filled and sealed canon embodying the present end closing labels;

FIG. 2 is a developed view of the present end closing label;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the upper portion of a carton provided with a modified form of end closing label;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the upper portion of a carton of the type shown in FIG. 1 with its flaps extended;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of FIG.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of FIG.

FIGS. 7 and 8 are cross-sectional views similar to FIG. 6 showing cartons having modified forms of end closure flaps to be referred to and provided with an end closing label;

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of a carton free of end closing flaps and provided with the present end closing label;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a pouring spout carton provided with the present end closing label;

FIG. 11 is a view similar to FIG. I0 showing the pouring spout opened FIG. 12 is developed view similar to FIG. 2 showing a modified form of the present invention embodying two strips of covering material;

FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing the two strips of FIG. 12 adhesively secured along the sidewall panel edges and the end of the carton;

FIGS. 14 and 15 are views similar to FIGS. 12 and 13 except that the strips are adhesively secured along the end wall panel edges and the end of the carton;

FIG. 16 is a plan view of a carton showing a developed piece of covering material at each corner; and

FIG. 17 is a perspective view showing the pieces of material adhesively affixed to the corners of the carton.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to the drawings, the carton 10 illustrated'in FIGS. 1 and 4 is provided with a body portion 12 having sidewall panels 14, 15 and end wall panels 1 6, 17 provided with closing flaps comprising sidewall flaps 18, 20 and end wall flaps 22, 24 as shown. The closing flaps illustrated in FIG. 4 comprise conventional carton flaps wherein all of the flaps are of the same height, equal to the thickness of the carton as indicated.

In practice, the end closing flaps 18, 20 and 22, 24 are folded down and adhesively secured together in the usual manner and, as is well known in the packaging art, this type of end closure for a carton provides pinhole openings at the corners 25 thereof in the closed and sealed cartons. In accordance with the present invention, inorder to close such comer openings in an efficient and economical manner, each end of the carton is provided with an end closure label or covering indicated generally at 26. Each end closure label comprises a flexible fibrous sheet material, such as paper, or each label may comprise an impervious sheet material.

As herein shown, each end closure covering or label 26 is provided with a cover panel 28, opposed sidewall engaging flaps 30 and opposedend wall engaging flaps 32 integral with the cover panel. In practice, the inner face of the label may be provided with a coating of adhesive 33 and the label is applied and adhesively secured to the ends of the carton, the flaps 30 and 32 being folded down into engagement with the adjacent wall panels of the carton in a manner such as to cover the corner portions 25 and thus close the pinhole openings therein. This is accomplished by making the cover panel 28, defined by broken lines 34, 36, larger than the corresponding dimensions of the closed end of the carton to be covered as defined by dotted lines 38, 40. In practice, the cover panel 28 may be about one-eighth inch greater in length than the larger dimension of the top of the carton, and about one-eighth inch greater in width than the smaller dimension of the top of the carton. As a result, when the cover panel 28 in its flat form is secured to the end of the carton, the marginal edges of the panel 28 extend outwardly one-sixteenth inch on each side or all around the perimeter of the carton so that when the flaps 30, 32 are folded down, this 1/ 16-inch extension will be folded down against the adjacent side and end walls. At the same time, the extensions at the corners are folded over the pinhole openings at 25, the corner folds requiring slight overlapping or crimping around the corners during the folding down of the flaps 30, 32 to complete the application of the label.

In the developed form of the label, as shown in FIG. 2, the flat sheet has its four corners cutoff at an angle of 45, each angular line 35 passing through the point of intersection 37 of the broken lines 34, 36 defining the cover panel 28. The dotted lines indicated at 38, 40 parallel to and spaced inwardly from the marginal edges 34-, 36 of the cover panel 28 represent the end of the carton 10 to which the label is applied. Thus, in the completed carton, each corner is provided with a crimped or overlapped portion. indicated at 42, which extends downwardly a short distance at each comer to cover the pinholes at said corners.

While the corners of the developed label shown in FIG. 2 are cut ofi' at an angle of 45 it will be understood that the corners of the sheet may have different cutouts to define the shape of the side and end wall flaps 30, 32. For example, a square or right angle portion may be cut from each corner. In any event, the inner ends of the corner cutouts will coincide with the intersecting points 37 of the lines defining the panel 28 so as to provide an approximate l/ l 6-inch marginal extension around the perimeter of the end of the carton to be covered, the panel 28 extending over and around the corners and edges when folded down against the side and end walls of the carton.

In a further modification of the invention, the corner cutouts of the label may be omitted and the label adhesively applied to the end of the carton by folding'the marginal edges of the label over the edges of the carton and forming overlapping and crimped portions at the corners of the carton.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIG. 1, the flaps 30, 32 of the label are of a nominal length, herein shown as extending about three-eighths inches from the end of the carton. In a modified form of the invention, as illustrated in FIG. 3, the label 43 is provided with a cover panel 44 having side and end wall flaps 46, 48 respectively which are substantially longer than those shown in FIG. 1 so as to afford ample space for printing or advertising purposes.

The carton shown in FIG. 4 is provided with end closing flaps 18, 20, and 22, 24 which are equal in height to the thickness of the carton so that the side flaps 18, are completely overlapped one upon the other in the closed carton as shown in FIG. 6. In a modified form of carton embodying the present end closure label, as shown in FIG. 7, the sidewall flaps 50, 52 are of a height such as to provide but a relatively small overlap in their closed condition, approximately /a-inch overlap as indicated at 53. In another modified form of carton embodying the present end closure label, as shown in FIG. 8, the sidewall flaps 54, 56 are arranged is abutting relation as indicated at 57.

In each of the embodiments shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 economies in the use of carton board are effected by making the flaps shorter as described. In practice, the closing flaps shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 are adhesively secured in their closed position. The end closure is then provided with a label 26 which not only prevents leakage of comminuted materials through the corner pinhole openings but also serves to prevent leakage of any material which might escape between the closed flaps.

In a still further embodiment of the invention, as shown in FIG. 9 the carton 58 may be entirely free of flaps and the end closure label 26 may comprise the entire end closure.

While it will be appreciated that one of the principal advantages afforded by the present end closure label is to prevent leakage out of or entrance of moisture into an unlined carton, it will be understood that any or all of the above described cartons embodying an end closure label 26 may be provided with a lining as indicated at 59 in FIGS. 8 and 9 for example.

Another type of carton illustrated herein, see FIGS. 10 and 11 with which the present end closure label 26 may be used with advantage comprises a so-called pouring spout carton 60 of the type illustrated and described in the US. Pat. No. 2,850,222 and assigned to the present assignee. As herein shown, such cartons are provided with weakened or perforated lines along at least one edge 62 thereof, such per forated or slit lines rendering the carton subject to leakage through such perforated portions. Such a carton, as shown in FIG. 10 provides with an end closure label 26 renders the end of the carton leakproof not only at the corners 25 but also along the perforated edge 62. In use the end flap 64 shown in FIG. 10 is torn off along the weakened line, the adjacent flap 32 being torn off with it to provide the pouring opening 66 as shown in FIG. 11. In this embodiment of the invention, the carton 60 may be either lined or unlined. It will be understood that the pouring spout carton illustrated is merely typical of various different structures of such cartons.

As further illustrated in FIG. 10, in order to facilitate opening of the carton, a tear string 68 may be adhesively secured under the flap 32 along the perforated edge 62. In operation, the exposed portion 70 of the string extending beyond the fiap 32 may be grasped and pulled to tear the flap 32 adjacent the perforated edge 62.

Further modifications of the present invention are illustrated in FIGS. 12 to 17 wherein the pinhole openings 25 at the comers of the carton are covered by strips of covering material other than a single sheet. These modifications leave uncovered those portions of the end closure which are not subject to leakage, thus resulting in a saving of covering material.

As shown in FIGS. 12 and 13 a carton 10 of the type shown in FIG. 1 may be provided with two opposed adhesively secured strips 80, 82 arranged along opposed edges of the sidewall panels 14, 15 of the carton and which are extended to cover the pinhole openings 25 as shown. The ends of the strips may be cut at a 45 angle as shown in FIG. 12, and the uncut portion 42 may be folded down and crimped over the corner in the manner illustrated.

FIGS. 14 and 15 illustrate a modification similar to that shown in FIGS. 12 and 13 except that the strips 84, 86 are adhesively secured along the opposed edges of the end wall panels l6, 17 of the carton and covering the pinhole openings 25. The corners may likewise be cut at a 45 angle.

The modification illustrated in FIGS. 16 and 17 comprises a piece of covering material 88 adhesively secured to each comer of the carton and covering the individual pinholes. The drawing shows each piece as being cut off at an angle of 45 but it will be obvious that each covering element may be applied to its square or uncut form by crimping or overlapping the material at the corners.

Although the covering material for closing the points of leakage in the ends of a carton are preferably of a flexible nature, such as paper, in some instances it may be of advantage to employ covering material of a rigid or semirigid type such as plastic material.

While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been herein illustrated and described, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied in other forms within the scope of the following claims.

Iclaim:

1. As a new article of manufacture, a rectangular carton having an end closure including a separate sheet of flexible material adhesively secured to the end of the carton, said sheet having an end closing panel and integral side end wall engaging flaps, said sheet having its corners cutoff at an angle, end closing panel being defined by lines connecting the inner portions of said end closing panel-having an area greater than the area at the end of the carton and extending a short distance beyond the marginal edges of the lines defining the end of the carton to which it is applied, each angular cutoff line passing through an adjacent intersecting point of the lines defining said and closing panel area, said marginal extended portions being folded over said edges and the comers of the carton together with side and end wall engaging flaps whereby to close and seal any minute openings at said edges and said corners.

2. A carton as defined in claim 1 wherein the corner cutoff angle equals 45.

3. A carton as defined in claim 1 wherein the portions of the end closing panel folded over the corners of the carton are crimped about their respective corners. 

1. As a new article of manufacture, a rectangular carton having an end closure including a separate sheet of flexible material adhesively secured to the end of the carton, said sheet having an end closing panel and integral side end wall engaging flaps, said sheet having its corners cut off at an angle, end closing panel being defined By lines connecting the inner portions of said end closing panel having an area greater than the area at the end of the carton and extending a short distance beyond the marginal edges of the lines defining the end of the carton to which it is applied, each angular cutoff line passing through an adjacent intersecting point of the lines defining said end closing panel area, said marginal extended portions being folded over said edges and the corners of the carton together with side and end wall engaging flaps whereby to close and seal any minute openings at said edges and said corners.
 2. A carton as defined in claim 1 wherein the corner cutoff angle equals 45*.
 3. A carton as defined in claim 1 wherein the portions of the end closing panel folded over the corners of the carton are crimped about their respective corners. 